Fuel cell system for charging an electric vehicle

Abstract

A method for charging electric vehicles includes receiving information regarding an electric vehicle. At least a portion of the information is received through a vehicle interface configured to place a battery of the electric vehicle into electrical communication with a fuel cell system. A charge is delivered from the fuel cell system to the battery of the electric vehicle through the vehicle interface without use of a direct current to alternating current (DC/AC) converter. The charge is delivered based at least in part on the information.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fuel cell generator system comprising:
 a fuel cell system configured to generate a direct current (DC) signal;   a DC/DC converter configured to receive the DC signal from the fuel cell system and convert the DC signal to a voltage for a battery of an electric vehicle; and   a router configured to direct at least a portion of the converted DC signal from the DC/DC converter for charging the electric vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The fuel cell generator system of  claim 1 , wherein the voltage generated by the DC/DC converter is within a first voltage range, and further comprising a second DC/DC converter configured to generate voltages within a second voltage range. 
     
     
         3 . The fuel cell generator system of  claim 1 , wherein the DC/DC converter is bi-directional such that power from a battery of the electric vehicle can be received for use in handling load transients or powering a load. 
     
     
         4 . The fuel cell generator system of  claim 1 , further comprising a control unit configured to control the fuel cell system, the DC/DC converter, and the router. 
     
     
         5 . The fuel cell generator system of  claim 1 , wherein the DC/DC converter comprises a first winding of a transformer, and further wherein a second winding of the transformer is mounted to the electric vehicle, and further wherein the converted DC signal is delivered to the electric vehicle through inductive coupling between the first winding and the second winding. 
     
     
         6 . The fuel cell generator system of  claim 5 , wherein a size of the second winding of the transformer is based at least in part on the voltage of the battery. 
     
     
         7 . The fuel cell generator of  claim 1 , further comprising a renewable power source in electrical communication with the DC/DC converter, wherein at least a portion of the DC signal originates from the renewable power source. 
     
     
         8 . The fuel cell generator of  claim 1 , wherein the DC/DC converter comprises an adjustable DC/DC converter. 
     
     
         9 . The fuel cell generator of  claim 1 , wherein the router is configured to direct at least a portion of the converted DC signal from the DC/DC converter to a charging station for charging the electric vehicle without use of a direct current to alternating current (DC/AC) converter.